Adjustable matrix for teeth-fillings.



T. D. THURMOND. ADJUSTABLE MATRIX FOR TEETH PILLINGS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 31, 1913.

Patented May 5, 1914.

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ADJUSTABLE MATRIX FOR TEETH-FILLINGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 5, 1914.

Application filed July 31, 19-13. Serial No. 782,291.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS D. THUR- MOND, a citizen of the United States, residingat Forsyth, in the county of Monroe and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Matrices for Teeth-Fillings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to dental appliances for holding fillings in teeth during the hardening or setting thereof, and has for its purpose to provide a device of that character which may be readily adjusted to suit the requirements of fillings in different teeth, and one which may be quickly adjusted and secured in set position without inconvenience or discomfort to the patient.

The invention has for its further purpose to provide a matrix for use with a clamp or mouth prop, which when adjusted will securely hold against the filling to the end of obtaining a more perfect adaptation thereof, and which will leave the hands of the dentist entirely free for other work.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views: Figure l is a top plan view of the device illustrating its application to a mouth prop. Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same. Fig. 8 is a top plan view illustrating the application of the device to the mouth. Fig. 4 is a detail view, partly in section, of the adjustable securing member. Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a modified form of device for holding the matrix. Fig. 6 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate a modified form of clamp.

Referring to the construction in further detail, 1 designates a mouth prop which may be purchased in open market and is known as the Hare mouth prop, and with which the matrix disclosed herein is especially adapted to be used.

The matrix comprises a flexible strip 2, of celluloid or other appropriate material,

which at one end is folded upon itself and inserted within a slot 3 formed in the wall 4 of the mouth prop, and in which position it is securely held. A pair of slots 3 are provided in the wall A of the mouth prop, to the end that the matrix strip maybe changed from one to the other, thus adapting the device to be used in either side of the mouth, or on either side of a particular tooth, the advantages of which will be obvious to those versed in dentistry.

The strip 2 is adapted to be secured, after having been adjusted to position,'through the medium of a slotted and tapered pin 5 rigidly mounted on the mouth prop, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4:. A thimble or nut 6 is screw-threaded on the split pin 5 and serves to clamp together the two portions of the pin and secure the strip 2 there between when the same has been brought to the position desired. A split pin 5 is provided for each slot 3 in the mouth prop, to the end that the matrix may be secured when used in either of the positions above stated.

The matrix is attached to the mouth prop in the slot 3, as above stated, and the prop then placed in the mouth in the usual manner. The strip is then brought between the teeth, and the cavity left accessible from the labial side'when the filling material is inserted. The strip is then brought against the filling and placed through the split pin and drawn tight, when the nut 6 is screwed into position and the strip secured. There the cavities in the teeth occur on the opposite side to that just described the strip will be set to the other slot 3, and in like manner adjusted and then secured to the pin 5.

Instead of employing the mouth prop, the present invention may with equal facility be used in connection with the form of fastening device and matrix holder illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In this instance a clamp is employed comprising a pair of jaws 9 and 10 pivotally connected by a pin 11, and adapted to be secured to the tooth of the patient through the medium of the adjusting screw 12. The jaw 10 is provided with a slot 13 designed to receive and securely hold the end 3 of the matrix 2, and a split pin 14:, similar to that shown in Fig. l, is secured to the jaw 10 and adapted to have its elements clamped together to hold the matrix by means of the nut or thimble 15. In using this form of device the clamp is secured to a tooth adjacent that to be filled, and the end 3 of the matrix secured in the slot 13, as before described. The matrix is then carried between the teeth from labial to lingual and then brought back through the space between the teeth (owing to location of cavity to be filled) to labial, and thence to the split pin, Where it is secured.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to such features except may be required by the claims.

In the modified form of clamp shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the construction is similar to that above described, except that a pin 16 has screw-threaded engagement with the clamp jaw 10 and carries a butt or pad 17 which is screwed down until it strikes the end of the tooth A, and thereby holds the clamp securely against strain when the matrix is drawn tight.

I claim:

1. In a dental appliance the combination with a slotted strip holder adapted to be placed in relation to a tooth, of a matrix comprising a flexible strip having one end fitting said slot; a split pin mounted on said strip holder and adapted to receive said strip; and a nut screw-threaded on said split pin adapted to clamp the same and secure the strip thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a dental appliance the combination with a mouth prop having a plurality of THOMAS D. THURMOND.

Witnesses J. M. Moonn, Jim. 0. PONDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

